On February 3, about 50 railcars derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, United States, around 9:00 p.m. local time, when the train was carrying products from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania. Plumes of smoke, questions about dead animals and concerns about drinking water have people asking: how concerned should they be?
THE ACCIDENT
It’s been over a week since 50 of the 150 freight train cars derailed outside East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, apparently due to a mechanical problem with the axle of a wagonbut the causes have not yet been fully clarified.
No one was hurt although concerns about air quality and dangerous chemicals on board the train caused some residents to leave and authorities later ordered the evacuation of the nearby area, as fears grew about a possible explosion. Officials chose to intentionally release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, causing flames and black smoke to billow into the sky again.
Environmental officials say monitors detected airborne toxins at the site during the controlled burn and that officials kept people away until they dissipated. They indicate that continuous air monitoring carried out by the railway firm and government agencies has not detected dangerous levels in the areaincluding during tests inside nearly 400 homes, since residents were allowed to return.
However, concerns remain and this chemical crisis is already being compared to the one that occurred during 1986 in Chernobyl.
The risk to animals is low, the Ohio Department of Agriculture said. Contaminants from derailed railcars spilled into some waterways and were toxic to fish, but authorities claimed that drinking water remained protected.
THE SUBSTANCES THAT ALARM
Some of the railcars that derailed in Ohio were carrying dangerous chemicals. In particular, one was carrying vinyl chloride. To avoid the risk of explosion, the authorities carried out the release and controlled burning of the gases.and ordered the evacuation of locals within a radius of between 1.5 and 3.2 kilometers.
vinyl chloride is a colorless gas used in a variety of plastic productsincluding pipes, wire and cable coatings, as well as packaging materials.
It is a colorless gas with a mild, sweet aroma. It burns easily and is unstable at high temperatures. When burned, it can create phosgene, a highly toxic substance that was used as a chemical weapon in World War I..
It evaporates easily on contact with water or soil. In the air, vinyl chloride changes into other dangerous substances.
According to experts, those people exposed for years to this gas present changes in the cellular structure of the liver, lung, or connective tissue.
It is also linked with various types of cancers, mainly liverand can cause genetic damage of a hereditary nature.
A short duration exposure can cause eye irritation, dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, immunity disorders or even blood circulation problems in the hands. When the skin is exposed to this gas, redness and blistering may occur.
Other of the wagons that derailed were moving combustible liquids, butyl acrylate and benzene residues. Many of these substances may have seeped into nearby river courses.
CONCERNS
Even in communities beyond East Palestine, where the derailment occurred, some residents say they are concerned about the long-term effects of even low-grade exposure to contaminants from the crash site. The town has scheduled a town hall meeting at the local high school for Wednesday night to hear questions from residents, whose concerns include lingering odors, how to ensure cleanliness, and what to do with pets and livestock that appear sick or have died since the accident.
The risk to such animals is low, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which recommended that people contact a local veterinarian if they have concerns about the health of their livestock or pets. The department has not received any official reports of livestock or pet illnesses or deaths directly related to the incident, although it would require a necropsy and laboratory work to ensure this.the Ohio Department of Agriculture said.
Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff cautioned at a news conference Tuesday that residents concerned about lingering odors or headaches from the derailment should know that these may be caused by levels of pollutants in the air well below what is unsafe.
The derailment also raised concerns about the safety of the rail system, although federal data shows that accidents on this scale involving hazardous materials are very rare. Trains even went through East Palestine again shortly after the evacuation order was lifted.
SOIL AND WATER
Pollutants from railcar wrecks in Ohio spilled into some waterways and were toxic to fishbut officials have said the area’s drinking water remained protected.
In addition to vinyl chloride, at least three other substances, including butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, were released into the air, soil, or wateraccording to a letter from the EPA notifying rail operator Norfolk Southern of its potential liability for cleanup costs.
Norfolk Southern’s response has included efforts to remove contaminants from surface soil and nearby streams, plus air quality monitoring, soil sampling, and residential water well assessmentsbased on your preliminary remediation plan.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates the spill affected more than 7 miles (11 kilometers) of streams and killed about 3,500 fish.
A slick of contaminants including butyl acrylate formed in the Ohio River in the first few days after the derailment and was flowing slowly Tuesday, approaching Huntington, West VirginiaOhio Environmental Protection Agency officials said.
However, they insisted that the amounts of contaminants found so far do not pose a risk to cities that depend on the river for their drinking water and the slick continues to fade as it progresses, according to the state EPA.
In response, some water companies have closed their intakes or increased treatment processes as a precaution.
THE CAUSES
Investigators have examined the railcar that started the derailment and have surveillance video from a home showing “what appears to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of failure from overheating moments before derailment”according to what was indicated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
However, rail operator Norfolk Southern and the NTSB have not publicly responded to one of the leading questions about the February 3 derailment: When exactly was the crew alerted to a mechanical problem with a railroad car axle, the suspected cause, and did they respond appropriately?.
A roadside fault detector alerted the crew to a mechanical problem “shortly before the derailment” and emergency braking was initiated, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board said that weekend.
Security video from two businesses in Salem, Ohio shows the underside of a wagon glowing on a shaft that appears to be on fire, indicating that the train could have traveled more than 32 kilometers (20 mi) with that fault before the derailmentreported the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The NTSB says it is also reviewing that video and said its preliminary report on the crash is expected in the next two weeks.
It’s been more than a week since 50 of the 150 freight train cars derailed, but concerns remain in Ohio. (AP)